Bemis turns 30...UNL cuts arts education...

Bemis Center for Contemporary Arts turns thirty and celebrates with open studios June 25, noon to 5 p.m. There will be a dedication of a Building Bemis capital expansion project, intended to address a need for space, and to increase direct support of artists-in-residence by 50 percent. The goal includes five studios, 8,000 square-feet of multi-use space, a dock with urban garden, and renovation of the Okada Sculpture and Ceramics Facility.

The University of Nebraska Board of Regents voted June 17 to eliminate the University of Nebraska-Lincoln K-12 Art Education Program. Marjorie Maas, director of Nebraskans for the Arts, distributed an email the same day which said: “Nebraskans for the Arts is thankful for the outcry from art education supporters from across the state…and will continue to explore avenues to re-establishing an art education program at UNL.”

The Omaha Zoning Board of Appeals approved Emerging Terrain’s Transport(ation) project June 16, adding 12 banners along grain elevators north of Interstate 80 near downtown. The competition for the new banners, supported by the Omaha Venture Group, opens July 6; visit emergingterrain.com.

Artist William Holland joins forces this Friday with violinist Kaitlyn Filippini and philanthropist Amy Ryan, for a one-night event supporting his employer, QLI. QLI, a nonprofit providing specialized rehabilitation services in Omaha, will receive 50 percent of revenue from art sales and 10 percent of Pizza Shoppe’s food and drink sales that night. “My art wouldn’t be where it is without QLI,” said Holland, known for his stylistic ink and watercolors. “This show is to thank them and help them out.” The FREE event includes live music by Filippini, at The Pizza Shoppe Collective, 6056 Maple Street, 6-9 p.m. on June 24. Holland’s work will be exhibited through June.

Heavy flooding downtown, is noticeable as water creeps higher on the “Salute to Labor” sculpture along the riverfront. Water reached Hot Shops Art Center on 13th and Izard; Omaha Public Works quickly responded, sealing the two street sewers with concrete. As of this writing, Art Center is untouched, and open until 9 p.m. during the College World Series. Open 9 a.m. during the week and 11a.m. on weekends.

RNG Gallery’s second-to-last show at their Omaha location next Saturay debuts the equestion paintings of Lori Schafer. The Omaha-bred, San Francisco-based artist titled the show “Pferd“ – the German word for horse. The show also honors Shafer’s grandfather Ferdinand RNG Gallery is located at 1915 Leavenworth. The opening reception is June 25 from 7-10 p.m. Show continues through July 17th.